Glue pan

ABSTRACT

A glue pan includes a pan body defining therein a holding chamber for holding a glue, and an adjustment member mounted in a through hole on the bottom wall of the pan body and having an overflow hole for guiding an excessive amount of the glue out of the holding chamber of the pan body and vertically adjustable relative to the pan body to regulate the capacity of the holding chamber in holding the glue.

This new application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan patent application number 099202438, filed on Feb. 5, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a glue pan for holding a glue and more particularly, to such a glue pan that allows adjustment of the glue-holding capacity for quantitative application.

2. Description of the Related Art

In sheet processing, sheet members may be bonded together to form a multi-layer board subject to a predetermined thickness. For example, multiple corrugated boards, cardboards, plywood or plastic sheet members may be bonded together with a starchy paste, paste resin, water base PU adhesive glue, or any adhesive fluid to form a predetermined thickness of combination board that provides an enhanced structural strength. During the bonding operation, a glue pan is used to carry the prepared glue for application. The amount of the glue carried in the glue pan is predetermined. According to conventional method, the amount of the glue carried in the glue pan is determined subject to the operator's experience. Determining the supply of the glue by experience cannot eliminate the problem of over application or under application. If an excessive amount of glue is supplied to the glue pan, a residual amount of the glue will be left in the glue pan after the application. The residual glue in the glue pan may easily be contaminated with dust. Recycling contaminated glue for a new application will affect the final bonding quality. If the amount of the glue carried in the glue pan is insufficient, a new supply of the glue is necessary, complicating the bonding operation.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a glue pan according to the prior art. According to this design, the glue pan comprises a pan body A defining therein a holding chamber A0 for holding a glue B, an upright stub tube A1 suspending in the pan body A, and an overflow passage A10 defined in the upright stub tube A1 in communication with the outside space. This design of glue pan is still not satisfactory in function and has drawbacks as follows:

-   1. The capacity of the holding chamber A0 is constant. When a glue B     is supplied to the holding chamber A0 over the elevation of the     topmost edge of the upright stub tube A1, the excessive amount of     the glue B will flow out of the pan body A through the overflow     passage A10. If the desired amount is greater than the holding     capacity of the holding chamber A0, a secondary supply of the glue B     is necessary, complicating the bonding operation and lowering the     productivity. -   2. After each use of the glue pan, the pan body A must be turned     upside down for removal of the residual glue. This cleaning     operation is complicated, wasting much labor and time. If the pan     body A is not well cleaned, a new supply of glue will be mixed with     the residual glue, affecting the quality.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a glue pan that eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a glue pan, which facilitates cleaning of the pan body after each application and allows adjustment of the holding capacity subject to requirements.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a glue pan comprises a pan body defining therein a holding chamber for holding a glue, and an adjustment member mounted in the pan body and vertically adjustable relative to the pan body. The adjustment member has an overflow hole for guiding an excessive amount of a glue carried in said holding chamber of the pan body.

Further, the pan body has a through hole cut through a bottom wall thereof in communication between the holding chamber and the outside space, and an inner thread in the through hole. The adjustment member is a screw member having an outer thread for threading into the inner thread. Therefore, the adjustment member can be rotated to adjust its elevation relative to the pan body and to further regulate the holding capacity of the holding chamber of the pan body.

Further, the adjustment member can be removed from the through hole of the pan body for allowing cleaning of the pan body conveniently to remove any residual glue. Thus, cleaning of the pan body is easy and needs not to turn the pan body upside down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a glue pan in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the glue pan in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the glue pan in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention, illustrating an excessive amount of the glue guided out of the holding chamber of the pan body through the overflow hole of the adjustment member.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a glue pan according to the prior art.

FIG. 6 illustrates a status of use of the glue pan according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a glue pan in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a pan body 1 and an adjustment member 2.

The pan body 1 defines therein a holding chamber 10, having a through hole 102 cut through the bottom wall 101 thereof in communication with the holding chamber 10 and the outside space.

The adjustment member 2 is a cylindrical rod member vertically adjustably positioned in the through hole 102 on the bottom wall 101 of the pan body 1 to block the through hole 102 and to adjust the amount of a glue 3 carried in the pan body 1.

According to this embodiment, the through hole 102 of the pan body 1 is a screw hole having an inner thread 103; the adjustment member 2 is a screw rod having an outer thread 21 for threading into the inner thread 103. By means of rotating the adjustment member 2 forwards or backwards, the elevation of the adjustment member 2 in the pan body 1 is relatively adjusted. Further, the adjustment member 2 has an overflow hole 20 cut through the top and bottom sides thereof. When a glue 3 is poured in the holding chamber 10 of the pan body 1, any excessive amount of the glue 3 will flow out of the pan body 1 through the overflow hole 20 to the outside of the pan body 1 and collected for reuse without causing contamination. Thus, the amount of the glue 3 carried in the pan body 1 is controlled. By means of rotating the adjustment member 2 to adjust the elevation of the adjustment member 2 in the pan body 1, the amount of the glue 3 held in the pan body 1 is relatively adjusted for quantitative application (for example, bonding of corrugated boards, cardboards, plywood, plastic sheet members, etc.). It is to be understood that the term “glue” herein discussed can be starchy paste, paste resin, water base PU adhesive, or any adhesive fluid for bonding purpose.

After each use of the glue pan, the adjustment member 2 can be removed from the through hole 102 of the pan body 1 to open the through hole 102 and to keep the holding chamber 10 of the pan body 1 in fluid communication with the outside space. At this time, the user can clean the peripheral walls and any corners in the holding chamber 10 to remove any residual glue, keeping the holding chamber 10 of the pan body 1 clean and avoiding mixing of a new supply of glue with any residual glue.

The embodiment described above is simply an example of the present invention and not intended for use as a limitation. In general, the glue pan in accordance with the present invention comprises a pan body 1 defining therein a holding chamber 10 and having a through hole 102 in communication between the holding chamber 10 and the outside space, and an adjustment member 2 mounted in the through hole 102 and adjustable in vertical to regulate the glue-holding capacity of the holding chamber 10 for quantitative application.

In conclusion, the invention provides a glue pan, which as the advantages and features as follows:

-   1. The adjustment member 2 is fastened to the through hole 102 in     the accommodation chamber 10 of the pan body 1 and vertically     adjustable to regulate the glue-holding capacity of the holding     chamber 10 for quantitative application, avoiding over or under     application and improving bonding efficiency and productivity. -   2. After each use of the glue pan, the adjustment member 2 can be     removed from the through hole 102 for allowing cleaning of the     holding chamber 10 thoroughly to remove any residual glue so that     the holding chamber 10 of the pan body 1 can be kept clean to avoid     mixing of a new supply of glue with any residual glue.

As stated above, the present invention provides a glue pan that has a through hole located on the bottom wall of the pan body thereof and an adjustment member mounted in the through hole and adjustable in vertical to regulate the glue-holding capacity of the holding chamber in the pan body for quantitative application. However, it is to be understood that the embodiment described above is simply an example of the invention but not a limitation.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A glue pan, comprising: a pan body defining therein a holding chamber for holding a glue; and an adjustment member detachably mounted in said pan body and vertically adjustable relative to said pan body, said adjustment member having an overflow hole for guiding an excessive amount of the glue out of said holding chamber of said pan body.
 2. The glue pan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pan body has a through hole cut through a bottom wall thereof in communication between said holding chamber and the outside space; said adjustment member is vertically adjustably mounted in said through hole.
 3. The glue pan as claimed in claim 2, wherein said through hole is a screw hole having an inner thread; said adjustment member is a screw member having an outer thread for threading into said inner thread.
 4. The glue pan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment member is vertically adjustable relative to said pan body to regulate the capacity of said holding chamber in holding said glue. 